WhatsApp users will have to choose to accept terms of service or delete their account in 2021: Report

According to WABetainfo, it looks like users will have to accept new terms and condition for the messaging service in February 2021 else risk losing their WhatsApp account. WABetainfo lists the date for the updated terms and conditions as February 8, 2021, but says that the date could change. They have shared a screenshot which highlights the fact that users need to accept the terms and conditions else users can delete their account.  

The screenshot shared reads, “By tapping Agree, you accept the new terms, which will take effect on February 8, 2021. After this date, you will need to accept the new terms to continue using WhatsApp or you can always delete your account. You can also learn more about how WhatsApp processes your data in our updated privacy policy”.   As you can see from the above, the update is expected to include more information about how a user's data is processed. The update will also shed light on how businesses can use Facebook hosted services to store and manage their WhatsApp chats.

Over the past couple of months, WhatsApp has added a bunch of features to the app. One of the newest features to go live for a lot of users is WhatsApp payments. Users can now send and receive money using WhatsApp. You can learn how to send money using WhatsApp here. 

WhatsApp also introduced disappearing messages. A user can send a message which will disappear after a period of 7 days. However, media sent may still remain on the receiver’s device. You can learn everything about disappearing messages here. 

WhatsApp also revamped its storage management tool so a user knows what time of data from WhatsApp is occupying storage and can take the necessary actions. 

There are a bunch of more new features available on WhatsApp and you can learn about them here.

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Garena Free Fires Endless Oblivion Elite Pass now available for purchase

Garena Free Fire’s new Elite Pass is now available to users. This month’s Elite Pass is called Endless Oblivion, the new pass offers an ancient Japanese-theme mixed with spirits, portals and possessions. As with all of Free Fire’s Elite Passes, there is a background story here as well and it concerns a specialised group of warriors called spirit defenders that fight back the threat of spirits. There are two spirit defenders called Ray and Abby.

The release shared by Garena describes the pass as “Ray and Abby, who are enjoying a day off until they receive a call from a dispatcher. The dispatcher informs them of a portal opening in the middle of a high school soccer game. This attack is unique because not only were spirits possessing the bodies of high school students, but they also kidnapped four teenagers by bringing them through the portal. Two fellow spirit defenders, Lou and Loretta, have been possessed as well. Ray and Abby head down to the high school to help combat the spirits and close the portal.”

Rewards

Rewards with the Elite Pass include Endless White/Endless Black bundles that represent the outfits worn by Abby and Ray respectively. Other rewards include Endless Oblivion-themed items like skins for the M249, Surfboard, loot box and backpack.

You can check out the trailer for the Elite Pass below.

Garena Free Fire is also gearing up for a new update that will be available on December 7. Details of the same have not yet been confirmed, but it will most probably be the OB25 update that will include new characters, weapons and more. Besides this, Garena is also teasing a new campaign called Operation Chrono, for which they have partnered with a well-known name. However, we still do not know who this will be. 

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Google Play Music is officially dead

For a year we knew that Google was pulling the plug on Google Play Music, and the official announcement of the same came in October. Now the service is officially dead for all the users.

The webpage music.google.com shows a notification that Google Play Music is no longer available and there is a button to transfer your music to YouTube Music. On opening the Play Music app, it greets you with a transition animation where the Google Play Music icon transitions into the YouTube Music logo.

The website and the phone app of Google Play Music show the same options when logged in, the app redirects you to the webpage. You have the option to download your music library, delete your recommendation history, and delete your music library.

This seems to be the final move from Google as after transferring your data or downloading it, the app widget should disappear from your home screen. Google notes that if the user does not download their data all the data will be automatically deleted once the shutdown is complete.

The users have until the end of December 2020 to download and transfer their data to YouTube Music. In 2021, users will not have any option to download or transfer their library. The catch here comes that Google has not yet provided an option to delete the locally stored music on the Google Play Music app. As you can no longer access the app’s interface the only option to free up space is to delete the app or to clear the storage from settings.

Nonetheless, Google has been enhancing the experience of Youtube Music to cater to those migrating from Google Play Music. 

 

 

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Motorolas rumoured Nio flagship phone could be Snapdragon 865 powered Moto G

Motorola’s rumoured flagship smartphone under the codename ‘Nio’ could be a Snapdragon 865-powered Moto G, according to fresh leaks. The phone was reportedly in development with its key specifications being leaked previously. However, the latest leak also gives us a glimpse at the display of the phone. 

According to a report by noted leakster Evan Blass on Voice, Motorola is preparing a Moto G that is powered by a Snapdragon 800-series processor and is codenamed ‘nio’. During the recently concluded Qualcomm Snapdragon Tech Summit 2020 where the chip-maker announced the Snapdragon 888, Motorola President Sergio Buniac revealed how the company is preparing to bring Snapdragon 800-series experience to the Moto G lineup in 2021. 

Motorola 'nio' https://t.co/tNZNRBIdwG

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) December 3, 2020

The image shared by Blass showcases a phone with dual punch-hole cutouts for two selfie cameras. It seemingly has narrow side bezels and noticeable bezels on the top and bottom. In a separate report by XDA developers, it is revealed that the upcoming Moto G runs on Android 11 and supports DisplayPort Alternate Mode over Type-C. This is for the company’s dedicated desktop mode that was teased during the Snapdragon Tech Summit 2020. Essentially, users will be able to connect the phone to a display for an extended desktop functionality. 

Motorola’s upcoming flagship Moto G is rumoured to feature a 6.7-inch display with a Full HD+ (2520 x 1080 pixels) resolution along with dual selfie cameras on the top. The screen may support 105Hz or 90Hz refresh rate.

The phone is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor with an octa-core CPU and is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage option. It is expected to run on Android 11 out-of-the-box with Moto customizations.

Moto G with Snapdragon 865 reportedly has a triple camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 64MP camera that uses the OmniVision OV64B image sensor, a secondary 16MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 16MP primary front-facing camera along with an 8MP secondary selfie camera.

The phone is also expected to pack in a 5,000mAh battery that will likely support some kind of fast charging system. While there is no official word from Motorola about the smartphone in question, we expect the company to make things official soon.

 

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Google Photos now lets you set a dynamic wallpaper from Memories, heres how to use it

The new update from Google Photos is a boon for people who are bored of their wallpapers. The new feature lets users set a dynamic wallpaper from their own catalogue of photos.

Google Photos version 5.22 and above has the feature included, building on the Instagram story like memories field, the main catch being Google defines what counts as a memory. You can learn more about how it works on Google’s blog post.

How to use Google Photos Memories as a dynamic wallpaper To enable this feature, you have to first update the Google Photos app to version 5.22.  Then just like setting a live wallpaper on your Android phone, press and hold the home screen until the wallpaper menu pops up.  In the live wallpaper option, you will be able to see the ‘Memories’ tab there.  This feature will cycle your memories as the background of your phone.

There is an option to ‘Open Photos’ on the preview page, but you won’t be able to customize the selection. It would just open the Google Photos app. 

This change comes after Google announced that it will eliminate free photo storage from 1 June 2021 and will add users' photos to the free 15GB cloud storage on offer. If you want to use more storage, you will have to pay for it.

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Warner Bros to Release Entire 2021 Slate on HBO Max and Theatres

Warner Bros. Pictures has announced that they will be releasing all the movies that were scheduled to come out in 2021, on the US-based streaming service - HBO Max; the exact same dates as it debuts in theatres. And yes, this includes Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune”, Lana Wachowski’s “The Matrix 4” and James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad”, amongst multiple other titles. The films will be available to stream on HBO Max for a one-month period (31 days), before they leave the platform and continue to thrive theatrically and via home video (DVD and Blu-ray).

I got you something nice this year: The biggest movie premieres In theaters and on HBO Max the exact same day Beginning December 25 with #WonderWoman1984#HBOMax #WBPictures https://t.co/BZgFFRrrg2 pic.twitter.com/J2KBdWd9Tf

— HBO Max (@hbomax) December 3, 2020

The news comes from an unprecedented, business model announcement made by the studio, earlier today, in response to movie theatres showing no signs of opening up any time soon, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A statement by Ann Sarnoff (CEO, WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group) reads, “We’re living in unprecedented times which call for creative solutions, including this new initiative for Warner Bros. Pictures Group. No one wants films back on the big screen more than we do. We know new content is the lifeblood of theatrical exhibition, but we have to balance this with the reality that most theatres in the U.S. will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021.” With this new, one-year experimentative plan, the company hopes to support its partners in exhibition with a steady lineup of world-class films, while also keeping interest of avid moviegoers, who might not have access to movie theatres nearby or aren’t quite ready to go back yet, for health and safety reasons.

Warner Bros. Pictures will be releasing a total of 17 films, simultaneously on HBO Max and movie theatres, starting with Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman 1984” on Christmas Day. Although, certain reports do suggest that the sequel might premiere in theatres, 9 days before it hits the streaming service. Not to mention, we also have Zack Snyder’s Justice League releasing in a matter of months, on the streaming platform. Although there are no official details on all the release dates, what we do have, is a complete list of films to look forward to in 2021. The release slate currently includes:

MOVIE RELEASE DATE (2021) The Little Things TBA Judas and the Black Messiah TBA Tom & Jerry 5 March Godzilla vs. Kong 21 May Mortal Kombat 15 January Those Who Wish Me Dead TBA The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It 4 June In The Heights 18 June Space Jam: A New Legacy TBA The Suicide Squad 6 August Reminiscence TBA Malignant TBA Dune 1 October The Many Saints of Newark TBA King Richard TBA Cry Macho TBA The Matrix 4 22 December

In a further statement, Jason Kilar (CEO, Warner Media), stated: “After considering all available options and the projected state of moviegoing throughout 2021, we came to the conclusion that this was the best way for Warner Media’s motion picture business to navigate the next 12 months.” Which does make a lot of sense considering WB products are extremely valuable, and deserves being experienced and appreciated by the masses. It further reads, “We believe this approach serves our fans, support exhibitors and filmmakers, and enhances the HBO Max experience, creating value for all.” Warner Bros. taking this route probably has to do with the results Christopher Nolan’s TENET (theatrical release) generated, in terms of revenue. Although the turnout wasn’t disastrously bad, it was significantly less than what was speculated. Especially for something coming out of Nolan's repertoire.

As great as all of this sounds, there is definitely a catch. The catch being that HBO Max is a US-only streaming service. Meaning, Indian and other international audiences would have to resort to watching these amazing films in theatres only. Or might have to wait until it releases on VOD. US audiences, on the other hand, will get to experience it all for a mere $15 per month price tag. Either way, this does not look good for services like Disney+, since their model requires you to pay a sum of $30 upfront, for each new movie (example: Mulan). As a consumer, you would go for the option that provides more value at a cheaper price point. And it seems like Warner Bros will be experimenting with that for a year. As for whether this business model works out in favour of the company, only time will tell.

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Redmi 9 Power rumoured to launch on December 15 in India

Xiaomi might launch a new Redmi 9 Power smartphone in India on December 15. The rumoured smartphone from the company is speculated to be a rebadged version of Redmi Note 9 4G that recently made its entry into the Chinese market.

Tipster Mukul Sharma, popularly known as Stufflistings on Twitter recently revealed that Xiaomi might launch the Redmi Note 9 4G in India. Today, he tweeted that the launch might take place on December 15th, where the company might also launch its first QLED Mi TV model in the country. The Redmi 9 Power was spotted on Google Play Console with model number M2010J19SI and codename 'lime', and it is rumoured to launch in two variants with 4GB of RAM as standard.

The company has not shared any official information about the launch, but if the rumour turns out to be true, it will be the seventh phone in the Redmi 9 series as the company already sells the Redmi 9A, Redmi 9, Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9 Pro Max and Redmi 9 Prime in India.

Redmi 9 Power specifications (expected)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 4G has a new design with the word ‘Redmi’ printed on the back panel. It features a 6.53-inch Full HD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels) resolution display with a waterdrop notch cutout for the selfie camera. The screen is protected with Gorilla Glass 3. 

It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor with an octa-core CPU and Adreno 610 GPU. This is paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage options to choose from. Like the other two phones, the Redmi Note 9 4G also offers storage expansion via microSD card.

It has a triple camera setup on the back with a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is an 8MP selfie camera housed within the waterdrop notch.

The Note 9 4G has stereo speakers along with a side-mounted fingerprint reader. It is equipped with a 6,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. As it comes with a slightly larger battery, it seems more likely to have 'Power' in the name as it boasts of the largest battery on any Redmi 9 device.

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